The best tennis player Novak Djokovic announced on Tuesday that he and his wife had proved positive for the coronavirus after playing in a series of exhibition games organized in Serbia and Croatia at zero social distances in the midst of the pandemic.
Raising questions about the return to all intents and purposes of tennis, including the US Open scheduled for August, Djokovic is the fourth player to go down with COVID-19 after participating in the games held in Belgrade and Zadar, Croatia.
The others were three times Grand Slam semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki.
“We believed that the tournament respected all health protocols and our region’s health seemed in good shape to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons,” Djokovic said in a post on social media on Tuesday. “We were wrong and it was too early.”
The rest of his Adria Tour, which was due to head to Bosnia later, was canceled.
“Unfortunately, this virus is still present and it is a new reality that we are still learning to face and live with. I hope things will loosen over time so that everyone can get back to life as they were, “said Djokovic in a previously released statement. “I am extremely sorry for every single case of infection. I hope this does not complicate anyone’s health situation and that everyone is well. “
Djokovic, who is third in the history of men’s tennis with 17 single Grand Slam titles, has often been in the news in connection with the outbreak of COVID-19, which led to the suspension of the ATP and WTA professional tennis tours in March. Plans for the return of sport-sanctioned events to August were announced last week.
In April, the player who has won five of the last seven Grand Slam tournaments and is 18-0 this year was criticized for saying he would not have taken a vaccine for the virus in order to compete, even if it was mandatory for the travel.
In May, during his stay in Spain, Djokovic broke local blocking rules by practicing in a tennis club about a week before he was allowed.
More recently, he complained about the plans of the US Tennis Association to try to protect people from the virus during the US Open with measures such as limiting the size of players’ entourages, going so far as to say that he didn’t know if he would go to the tournament in New York.
The US Open is expected to begin on August 31, without spectators, and the French Open – postponed from May – is expected to begin on September 27.
“This situation is exactly why we created a comprehensive health and medical plan with input from our medical advisory team, as well as other experts, which has been approved by New York State,” USTA said in a statement that wished the sick players well. “Creating a controlled US Open environment, including official hotel, transportation, food, medicine and safety protocols, allows us to mitigate potential risk and respond appropriately to any problem.”
Djokovic found himself defending the lax agreements of his exhibitions, which were intended to raise funds to help people affected by the pandemic. The stands were full and the players randomly interacted with fans and each other off the pitch. Djokovic and other players were seen hugging and celebrating in night clubs and restaurants.
After Dimitrov said he tested positive over the weekend, the final of the competition in Croatia – where Djokovic is supposed to play – has been canceled.
Djokovic, who shows no symptoms of COVID-19, said he will remain in solitary confinement for 14 days.
“It all started with a philanthropic idea, to direct all the funds raised to people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everyone responded strongly to this,” said Djokovic. “We organized the tournament when the virus weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met.”
Both countries eased their blockages before the elections held in Serbia last Sunday and scheduled for July 5 in Croatia, and much of the Balkans has been experiencing a spike in new COVID-19 cases since the toughest measures were lifted. .
The opposition in Croatia wondered whether the vote in Croatia should go ahead and whether Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his government should isolate themselves after meeting briefly Djokovic in Zadar.
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